What is the mark (and nature) of the beast

[url=http://cid-59d91a526d2983ad.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/BH%20Clendennen%20mp3%20files/The%20Mark%20of%20the%20Beast.wma]The Mark[/url]

This is a message preached by BH Clendennen on this subject and I think every Christian needs to hear it. He says the mark of the beast has 4 elements: selfishness, pride, envy and anger. Many are already marked and do not realize it. The deception of hell is many Christians believe if they miss the rapture they will refuse the mark and be martyred. It's not that simple and they will receive strong delusion and believe a lie for when the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Truth is taken out of the way, what is left but the lie? It took the conviction of the Holy Spirit to convince sinners they are sinners. When He is taken out of the way how can any one know the difference between truth and lie? This message exposes one of the devil's most successful (and largely unchallenged) lies in history. Please take time to download this and listen to it. I uploaded to msn skydrive for safekeeping. Please listen. It is powerful.

Kathleen,

I listened to this sermon and I must say it is powerful. Here are a few notes I took as I was listening:

1. The mark of the beast:selfishness

2.The Spirit of the beast is:

a. Preservation of self.
b. Self- exaltation.
c. Pride
D. Selfishness.

3. Self will not listen.

4. Nobody tells me what to do.

The Spirit of God is:

1. Humility.

2. Meek in heart.

It is impossible to act contrary to what you are.

Lots there to think about.

ginnyrose

Thank you sister Kathleen1, for this is one powerful message that this church world needs to hear. The privilege to hear God’s anointed messenger is a true blessing from God. This message so needs to be heard today. Preachers and Christians could learn and be so blessed in the Lord if they would only take time to listen to him.

Satan will only brand those already his by there own nature being of Him. I have often wondered that if one didn’t make the rapture would they be considered one of those who are damned because of not loving the truth that would have saved them.

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

How can anyone prepare for the horrors that are coming to this earth? I am not going to prepare for the antichrist or the great tribulation. I am only going to prepare to meet the Lord. I desire to be prayed up, filled up, and ready to go up. The scripture says to those who look for him will he come back for them without sin unto salvation. He is coming for those who are looking for Him. We should be watching, praying, and longing to be caught up into the air to be with our Lord. We don’t need any self-esteem just only Christ-esteem. We must decrease and He must increase.

The mark of the beast is also a marker denoting who one ultimately trusts in. If you cannot buy or sell without taking the mark, it will show who you ultimately believe is your provider: God or the world (system). If you believe God is your provider, then one would have no trouble refusing the mark. But, if you don't trust God for your daily bread, then one has no choice but to take the mark.

I have been studying the cross, the last weeks of Jesus' life, and His suffering on the cross and I just wanted to share this briefly, because, even though I love Bro Clendennen, I take no man's word alone on what is truth without going to the Source and searching it for myself. However, everything I saw, and learned with the help of the Holy Spirit confirmed what Bro Clendennen said.

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

TThe word for "made" here is G4160..in the Greek it is poieo. It means to be the author of, to cause to bring something about, to make ready, prepare, to provide a thing for one's own self, to make one do something, appoint or ordain something for someone else. Christ Jesus, our Lord, the Scripture says is the Author and Finisher, the beginning and end of our Faith. Every saint of God, born again, is marked by the blood of Jesus Christ, which in itself signifies forgiveness, cleansing of sin, self-sacrifice, the selfless act of Another that constitutes our hope.

The same word is translated in the KJV 'causeth' in Rev. 13.

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

This anti-christ of the great tribulation that will come after the rapture, will have this thing, this mark ready. He will bring it about and produce and provide it for the people of this earth. It will be something that will seem to be sensible, convenient, and the people will not have to be forced to take it for the most part-they will clamor for it. I know that goes against traditional religious opinion. The mark (nature) of Christ is self-sacrificing love, for the good of others. It is something that marks His own. They have this seal-the blood of Christ, which sets them apart from the world. It means this:

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

When you look up the word "mark" (G5480) the Greek word is charagma and it means to stamp, impress an image formed upon another. Now, if God seeks man to conform him to the image of His Son, ("Let us make man in Our image") (Gen_1:26) you better understand the devil seeks man to conform man to his own image, which is another word for likeness. God wants us to be like His Son, Satan wants us to be like him. What is he like? Selfish, proud, envious and angry.

Here is a great follow up to the message on the Mark, that is also a must hear:

[url=http://cid-59d91a526d2983ad.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/BH%20Clendennen%20mp3%20files/The%20War%20We%20Must%20Win.mp3]The War We Must Win-BH Clendennen[/url]

This anti-Christ of the great tribulation that will come after the rapture, will have this thing, this mark ready. He will bring it about and produce and provide it for the people of this earth. It will be something that will seem to be sensible, convenient, and the people will not have to be forced to take it for the most part-they will clamor for it. I know that goes against traditional religious opinion.

Right you are on that! You could get embroiled in a long discussion about pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-trib rapture. As I understand Revelation the godly will have to face whether they will take on the mark of the beast and if they refuse, they will be killed.

Having said all this, I do agree with Clendennan in that God's children can be identified by "something" that shows on their faces. The ungodly have what I call a "black look" on their faces. This is not on a godly person. Mark? I suspect the one Revelation talks about would be more distinctive...my opinion, but think if we live long enough we will find out.

ginnyrose

I really wouldn't want to get embroiled in a debate over which trib view is right...Scripture warns against debating and striving over the word. But, regardless, if you have the Holy Spirit in you and you seek Him, and listen to Him, and search the Scriptures and bring what you don't understand to Him, which is what I do, then how can you be led into error if you are seeking the Spirit of Truth and not what man writes about what God says? In order for the Anti Christ to be revealed, He who now restrains and with holds must be taken out of the way. That is the Holy Spirit. And since God is not going to take the Holy Spirit and leave those in whom He lives, it is reasonable to believe when the Spirit is removed, so the church too. That is pre trib and that is what I know to be true.

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The Holy Spirit is a restrainer but when God calls Him home, those in whom He lives will go too. THEN that wicked one will be revealed. So, I just want to be ready, and cut loose from self and the world and only the word and power of God can do that for and in me. Amen?